Patentable/Patents/US-8804417
US-8804417

Nonvolatile memory device including dummy memory cell and program method thereof

PublishedAugust 12, 2014
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A nonvolatile memory device including a dummy memory cell and a method of programming the same, wherein the nonvolatile memory device includes a dummy memory cell, and a plurality of memory cells serially connected to the dummy memory cell. The nonvolatile memory device sets a voltage provided to the dummy memory cell according to a distance between a selected memory cell among the plurality of memory cells and the dummy memory cell when a program operation is performed.

Patent Claims
5 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A nonvolatile memory device having a string structure, comprising: a dummy memory cell; and a plurality of memory cells serially connected to the dummy memory cell, wherein a voltage applied to the dummy memory cell during a programming operation is set according to a distance between the dummy memory cell and a memory cell selected from the plurality of memory cells for programming, and wherein a plurality of n voltage levels are selectively applied to the dummy memory cell as the voltage and are decreased as the distance between the memory cell selected for programming and the dummy memory cell is increased, wherein n is greater than 2, and wherein the voltage levels do not increase as the distance increases beyond n greater than 2.

2

2. The nonvolatile memory device of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage generator configured to generate the plurality of n voltages levels applied to the dummy memory cell and to generate first voltages applied to the plurality of memory cells.

3

3. A nonvolatile memory device, comprising: a ground select transistor; a dummy memory cell serially connected to the ground select transistor and configured to receive a disturbance prevention voltage via a dummy word line; and first, second and third memory cells serially connected to the dummy memory cell and configured to form a channel according to voltages received via respective first, second and third word lines, wherein during a program operation, the disturbance prevention voltage applied to the dummy memory cell is set according to a distance between the dummy memory cell and a memory cell selected from the first, second and third memory cells for programming, wherein a distance between the first memory cell and the dummy memory cell is a first distance, a distance between the second memory cell and the dummy memory cell is a second distance, and a distance between the third memory cell and the dummy memory cell is a third distance, wherein the third distance is longer than the second distance, and the second distance is longer than the first distance, wherein a first disturbance prevention voltage applied to the dummy word line when the first memory cell is selected for programming is greater than a second disturbance prevention voltage applied to the dummy word line when the second memory cell is selected for programming, and the second disturbance prevention voltage is greater than a third disturbance prevention voltage applied to the dummy word line when the third memory cell is selected for programming, and wherein when memory cells serially connected beyond the third memory cell are selected for programming, disturbance prevention voltages applied to the dummy word line do not increase.

4

4. The nonvolatile memory device of claim 3 , further comprising a voltage generator configured to generate the disturbance prevention voltages applied to the dummy memory cell and to generate voltages applied to the first and second memory cells.

5

5. A nonvolatile memory device comprising: a plurality of memory cells configured to form a channel responsive to first voltages received via respective word lines; a dummy memory cell serially connected between a ground select transistor and the plurality of memory cells, and configured to receive a disturbance prevention voltage via a dummy word line; and a voltage generator configured to generate the first voltages and a plurality of n voltage levels, selectively apply the plurality of n voltage levels as the disturbance prevention voltage to the dummy memory cell via the dummy word line, and apply the first voltages to the plurality of memory cells via the respective word lines, the voltage generator preventing unselected memory cells from being programmed by setting the disturbance prevention voltage according to a distance between the dummy memory cell and a memory cell selected for programming, wherein the plurality of n voltage levels applied to the dummy memory cell as the disturbance prevention voltage are decreased as the distance between the selected memory cell and the dummy memory cell is increased, and wherein n is greater than 2, and wherein the voltage levels do not increase as the distance increases beyond n greater than 2.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

June 10, 2011

Publication Date

August 12, 2014

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Cite as: Patentable. “Nonvolatile memory device including dummy memory cell and program method thereof” (US-8804417). https://patentable.app/patents/US-8804417

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